ary shook hands with the
hunter and returned to his house, while Jacques wended his way to the
village in search of Harry and Hamilton.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

GOOD NEWS AND ROMANTIC SCENERY--BEAR-HUNTING AND ITS RESULTS.

Jacques failed in his attempt to break off his engagement with the
fur-traders. The gentleman in charge of Norway House, albeit a
good-natured, estimable man, was one who could not easily brook
disappointment, especially in matters that involved the interests of the
Hudson's Bay Company; so Jacques was obliged to hold to his compact, and
the pastor had to search for another guide.

Spring came, and with it the awakening (if we may use the expression) of
the country from the long, lethargic sleep of winter. The sun burst
forth with irresistible power, and melted all before it. Ice and snow
quickly dissolved, and set free the waters of swamp and river, lake and
sea, to leap and sparkle in their new-found liberty. Birds renewed
their visits to the regions of the north; frogs, at last unfrozen,
opened their leathern jaws to croak and whistle in the marshes, and men
began their preparations for a summer campaign.

At the commencement of the season an express arrived with letters from
headquarters, which, among other matters of importance, directed that
Messrs. Somerville and Hamilton should be dispatched forthwith to the
Saskatchewan district, where, on reaching Fort Pitt, they were to place
themselves at the disposal of the gentleman in charge of the district.
It need scarcely be added that the young men were overjoyed on receiving
this almost unhoped-for intelligence, and that Harry expressed his
satisfaction in his usual hilarious manner, asserting somewhat
profanely, in the excess of his glee, that the governor-in-chief of
Rupert's Land was a "regular brick." Hamilton agreed to all his
friend's remarks with a quiet smile, accompanied by a slight chuckle,
and a somewhat desperate attempt at a caper, which attempt, bordering as
it did on a region of buffoonery into which our quiet and gentlemanly
friend had never dared hitherto to venture, proved an awkward and utter
failure. He felt this, and blushed deeply.

It was further arranged and agreed upon that the young men should
accompany Jacques Caradoc in his canoe. Having become sufficiently
expert canoemen to handle their paddles well, they scouted the idea of
taking men with them, and resolved to launch boldly forth at once as
_bona-fid